WILMORE, Ky. – The Trine University baseball team collected their first win of the 2022 season on Sunday in the backend of a doubleheader with Asbury University. The Thunder (1-2) lost in the opening game 5-1, and was victorious in game two, 3-1.
GAME ONE RECAP:
After a scoreless first, Cory Erbskorn [Archbold, Ohio / Archbold] singled with two away in the inning. Asbury plated the game's first run by using small ball in the bottom of the second.
Back-to-back singles with two outs by Easton Rhodes [Auburn, Ind. / DeKalb] and Tyler Beyke [Greenville, Ohio / Greenville Senior] in the third went by the wayside as well and once again, the Eagles plated a run in the bottom half to take a 2-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Bryce Bloode [New Carlisle, Ind. / New Prairie] was relieved in the bottom of the fifth after allowing some traffic on the basepaths and two more runs came around to score and were added to his ledger.
Dalton Nikirk [Bedford, Ind. / Bedford North Lawrence] was hit by a pitch in the seventh and came around to score for the team's only run in the game.
Cam Nagel [Noblesville, Ind. / Noblesville] worked around a single in the seventh to wrap up his scoreless 2.1 innings of work.
Asbury plated an insurance run in the eighth and kept the Thunder from getting a runner into scoring position in the ninth to take game two of the three-game weekend series, 5-1.
Rhodes was the only player with multiple hits in a 2-for-4 effort from the lead-off spot.
GAME TWO RECAP:
Both teams went scoreless through the first three innings with starting pitcher Kade Keele [Fort Wayne, Ind. / New Haven] fanning four batters.
In the top of the fourth, Tyler Robinson [Schaumburg, Ill. / Schaumburg] led off the inning with a single and was pushed to second base via a sacrifice bunt. Jacob Medvescek [Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville] drove in Robinson for the game's first run with an RBI double to right center.
Asbury was able to manufacture the tying run in the fifth after they put runners on second and third with one out. A groundball to the right side allowed the Eagles to plate a run.
A miscue by Asbury in the top of the sixth allowed Trine to regain the lead 2-1. Noah Brettin [Rolling Prairie, Ind. / New Prairie] took the mound for the Thunder in the bottom half and twirled a scoreless frame in the sixth.
Trine added on in the seventh by sending seven to the plate. A Robinson single scored Matthew Martin [Eureka, Ill. / Eureka] to go up 3-1.
Brettin was able to record the long save over the final four innings after holding the Eagles scoreless for the remainder of the game. Keele picked up the victory as both pitchers struck out five.
Trine baseball is off next week as they prep for their spring break trip.